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About the subscreen

These days instead of progressing on level development, I worked on the menus and the subscreen. It´s really time-consuming to make a decent looking menu, and I´m still trying to put together a good subscreen layout.

So far, the main menu is done. I just have to add the classic small Samus cursor, and change the background for an original picture (that one is from the Metroid Prime comic).

On the other hand, the subscreen is barely functional. I´ve done the menu, but I´m still not convinced about the items layout. This is the latest mockup of it:

NOTE: THIS IS A MOCKUP!!!Just to avoid complains about how much that screen sucks. This is just to determine where each part of the screen will be placed.Anyway, the layout is inspired by Super Metroid (item grouping), Metroid Fusion (stats at the top of the subscreen), and there´s a brief description of every item on the bottom, like in Zero Mission.The map screen will share the format (letterbox with blurred game screen on the background), to make the transition between both screens seamless.

For all the people asking: Yes, you´ll be able to toggle all the abilities and items you have via subscreen. By now I´ve scraped the idea of toggling beams in real time, there are no situations that need it, and you can do the same in the subscreen.

Well, once I have the proper artwork and layout, I´ll show you the progress. In the meantime, you can post your thoughts and suggestions about it, I´m all ears.

-Is the current amount of energy you have also going to be shown on the subscreen, like in Metroid Fusion? As in the style of a purple square next to some numbers in the form of "current energy / maximum energy (eg: 128/599)?

-How is the map going to be displayed on the subscreen? I didn't see any instructions displayed on the subscreen on how to show the map (Yes, I know that the displayed subscreen is a mockup, but still...).

-What is the "Extras" option on the main menu? Is it a gallery, or a soundtrack? Could you explain what it is supposed to be?

>-May I suggest in the beginning you are chased by some sort of metroid that your not ready for?

The beggining of the game will be faithful to the original. Recreating the first trip to the first Metroid encounter is a delicate matter, it´s a very special moment in the game, and I want that intact, for nostalgia mostly.

>-Since you have the short beam sprite implanted there, why not change it to the long beams's sprite?

I was planning to make an original beam sprite, that looks like the long beam, but retains the yellow color. I might try it on red...

>-I must ask why is it in the first trailer you start out with some power bombs but you have to get the bombs later.

The trailer showed powerups that are supposed to be in later areas, that, at the time, were not done. I showed Super Missiles and PowerBombs, but you don´t start the game with those. Can you imagine the first Metroid fight?

>If I may request, please use apostrophe-"s" at the end of every singular possessive noun

Sure. About the ingame text, I´ll have it supervised by native english speakers, like I did with the intro text in the demo.

>for item pick up messages, i hope you're using the white font you have there instead of the blue gradient font like shown in the demos.

Sure.

>-Is the current amount of energy you have also going to be shown on the subscreen, like in Metroid Fusion?

Yes. actually, the first one would show energy (it´s a repeated missile icon). I just pasted that to have an idea of it´s placement with the maximum value.

>-How is the map going to be displayed on the subscreen? I didn't see any instructions displayed on the subscreen on how to show the map

There will be instructions, don´t worry.

>-What is the "Extras" option on the main menu? Is it a gallery, or a soundtrack? Could you explain what it is supposed to be?

Right now it´s planned to be a concept art / endings gallery. I could throw in a music test feature if you want.

Thanks for the comments!I´ll show you the progress on the christmas post.

I have an idea! Since Zero Mission had a classic NES Metroid in their extras, how about adding Metroid 2 (with the choice of Game Boy and Super Game Boy (4 colors) styles)? If it's too difficult or time-consuming to pull off, never mind.

Also, are you planning on adding an extra area or two? Zero Mission added Crateria and Chozodia.

Here's an idea... In the menues "Extras" selection, you could include fan based art of the Metroid universe (Samus, Metroids, other creatures, planets, etc).

You could open up an art submission topic where the fans can vote for their favorite/highest quality art and have the winners art submitted into the game and made unlockable when completing specific tasks: finishing game, item %, time, etc.

I think that would be really interesting and nice to see what the community can offer in terms of artistic content. Perhaps you can use some of the art for the main menu theme, introduction, or cutscenes(??!?).

I have an idea for his work ... You could add the game a "room to download maps of each levels" as well as Metroid Zero mission, to not be as confusing as in Metroid 2 Return of the xD Samus.Well it is just an idea. You the designer.That's it, is a master at creating games and I congratulate him, his game is becoming very well, so follow!

He put some links if you are used to his game:Costum Metroid Larva:http://metroidr.brpxqzme.net/index.php?act=resdb&param=02&c=1&id=191Sprites, Libs, and Tilesets:http://metroidr.brpxqzme.net/index.php?act=resdb&param=02&c=1&id=180

about that three now empty rooms:how bout putting a map station in one, a save station in another and maybe an upgrade in the third one?im curious about map stations anyway, will we get those, or just exploration?

also, how bout a nod to the prime games. maybe adding a few dead federational troops somewhere, or a federational outpost, a federation ship or something. just to see that the federation was here.so were the pirates. and the chozo years before that.

after reading the official metorid manga (16 chapters) i came to the conclusion that the chozo released the metroids on sr388 shortly before the space pirates exterminated them all. for they were created on zebes. so the chozo ruins on sr388 are not that mush ruinous at all. they are just a few years old. the chozo did not live there until the space pirates attacked zebes.thats why sr388 metroids evolve, while all the others dont. the chozo needed to teach them.

about that three now empty rooms:how bout putting a map station in one, a save station in another and maybe an upgrade in the third one?im curious about map stations anyway, will we get those, or just exploration?

also, how bout a nod to the prime games. maybe adding a few dead federational troops somewhere, or a federational outpost, a federation ship or something. just to see that the federation was here.so were the pirates. and the chozo years before that.

after reading the official metorid manga (16 chapters) i came to the conclusion that the chozo released the metroids on sr388 shortly before the space pirates exterminated them all. for they were created on zebes. so the chozo ruins on sr388 are not that mush ruinous at all. they are just a few years old. the chozo did not live there until the space pirates attacked zebes.thats why sr388 metroids evolve, while all the others dont. the chozo needed to teach them.

hi ...I think you add in the menu there is a failure.In the upper left leaves a symbol of missile should fix it, and to change the symbol of Energy Tank.I have doubts about the menu.---> Actually the game is so long that can last more than 04:00 hours?---> When you win the varia suit, you should not change the costume of Samus on the menu?---> In the menu entry ... As you can be 99% if missing two Energy Tanks?Well are tips for making the fix and you draft this better.

How about an appearance of X PARASITES in a place where no metroid can go? If one gets you, it slowly sucks up your energy and you have to find a metroid and let it latch on to you which causes the X to be eaten?

I know thats hard and not true to the original but its just an idea. I'm just saying that this game would be 100% perfect if you took the time to add something completely new that was not in any previous metroid game, or atleast the original.

Someone mentioned before... a NEW AREA. Now that's a BIG idea... Doesnt have to be "new" either, just an expansion of an old one, like the planet surface. Again, i just wana see something new so badly, even if it pushes the release date a whole year back.

Wow it's been a while since I checked up on the progress of this project, and to tell you the truth this is looking very professional.If the fokes at Nintendo ever wont to make an official remake of this game. They should hire you and other fan game greats.Sike and Karrde actrully have some grate ideas that wont be too riskey to use. Such as the one were their are fallen federation troops.

May I suggest in the very beginning of the game when the ship lands. Instead of heading streaght for the cave to the right Samus fallows the destess calls of the federation team which are being transmitted from a small valley above the cave. Heres one way you can reach this area. You can shoot a small hole in the ground and use the geiser as a lift. What do you think

I think you should just make this one exactly like the original, no ferderation troops, map stations ect, but that would be cool, if in the extras if you could add the original metroid 2 game.Take a look at this menu i found on youtube, make this one like it, looks soo cool.

hmm... I just thought of something... in the original metroid 2, it was night time, not day time... so, you are starting it in day, why not end it at night? I can attempt to make the original background into night if you like, I am pretty good at editing backgrounds... I'll post it when I am done. or should I e-mail it? (that is, if you would like me to make it.)

Um, are you kidding me? Holy cow dude, this is already so much better than anything I could have done. You're insane at game development. I really don't care what you come up with, all I know is it's gonna be amazing and I can't wait to play it. The simulation demo was the best Metroid fan game I've ever played, and I've played quite a lot of them. Great job so far!

About the tower with all the beams, the bottom room should have the Plazma Beam, the one above that has a save station, one above that has the Gravity Suit, but you can only go up to the top half through a secret entrance guarded by a metroid. And, the suit leaves you with a dead end, with a bunch of crumble blocks leading you to the save station. The top room has the map.

The screens are pretty nice. I also assume your music can be great enough to fit the opening screen (I would doubt you would make an opening movie, though). Maybe like how Portal was done, could you consider developer's commentary?

personally i think the save game select screen looks pretty good with that BG and your sub screen menu... that looks good to! im trying to think of what else you could do to improve them but im drawing a blank :( Your 100% right in that theese parts are VERY time consuming. still looks great and as always AWESOME work! ^_^

>there was one of each beam in area 4, right? Well, if you put only one beam weapon in there, what will you do with the remaining three rooms?

I´m planning on revamping the entire tower, to make it bigger and more interesting.

>how about adding Metroid 2 If it's too difficult or time-consuming to pull off, never mind.

Actually it is. Besides, Game Maker doesn´t like paletted sprites a bit.

>are you planning on adding an extra area or two?

Yes, One new area is planned so far, to accomodate Gravity Suit and the first Power Bombs.

>You could add the game a "room to download maps of each levels" as well as Metroid Zero mission

I think Map Rooms will ruin the exploration for the first time players. Most of the Metroid encounters are not hidden, and most of the hidden areas have a visual clue about how to acess them. There´s a share of very well hidden secrets, but these are optional for the explorer kind of player. Anyway, by just looking at the map, you can guess where the metroids are, this would take away the famous surprise factor.

>how bout a nod to the prime games. maybe adding a few dead federational troops somewhere...

There will be remains of the last rescue mission.

---> Actually the game is so long that can last more than 04:00 hours?---> When you win the varia suit, you should not change the costume of Samus on the menu?---> In the menu entry ... As you can be 99% if missing two Energy Tanks?

There´s no save system yet, so I can´t read those variables yet. Those numbers are placeholders. The Samus sprite in the subscreen will change according to her suit.

>How about an appearance of X PARASITES in a place where no metroid can go? If one gets you, it slowly sucks up your energy and you have to find a metroid and let it latch on to you which causes the X to be eaten?

... No.First, NO X IN THIS GAME. Second, a single X left Samus unconscious in a matter of seconds in Metroid 4

>so, you are starting it in day, why not end it at night? I can attempt to make the original background into night if you like

I thought about that some time ago. Anyway, that background is on the redo-from-scratch list, so it´ll be redrawn. Thanks for the offer though.

>www.hurrican.de

Agreed! Go play this if you haven´t already. BTW, the right url is http://www.hurrican-game.de/

>maybe you can also place that weird thing that shows how many metroids are still alive in the menu?

That´ll be on the map screen. It´ll also show the remaining metroids to clear the area (like when you paused the original game).

>could you consider developer's commentary?

Believe me, you don´t want to hear my voice. :-)

>what will the ending conditions be? for the diff endings??will they be difficulty based?time?item collection?

All of the avobe. I still can´t calculate the length of an average game, so this will be decided later.

>Nice subscreen. Kinda reminds me of the one used for FSMR. I like the faded game image in the background, but may I suggest that you take the blur off? It doesn't look right.

The blur makes the game image more into te background. I just wanted to make the interface as clear as possible. Besides, it´s part of the transition.Anyway, we are waiting for the FSMR demo, any release date?

'Turn stuff on and off, Super Metroid style'. Sounds good, but that makes me wonder why exactly you added the Power Suit there... Will you be able to turn it off? O.O Then that would mean you could turn the Power Beam off as well...

You can have only one at a time. Instead of enabling/disabling varia or gravity, you just pick the one that you want and select it. The other two are disabled (I´m treating the suits as independent suits of armor, instead of upgrades)

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